Santa Sightings

Santa’s MailboxDec. 1-17 in the gazebo at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road in downtown Woodstock. Each child who leaves a letter for Santa will receive one back before Christmas.

Dec. 1Christmas in Downtown. The spirit of Christmas can be found downtown at Christmas on Main Street. It’s the perfect chance to shop for gifts and have some fun at the same time. Santa has already RSVP’d!

The fifth annual March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots will begin at 7 p.m. in Ball Ground. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots campaign. Collection boxes will be available at City Park and along the parade route on Main Street. This year’s grand marshal will be Alex Quarles, a local actor who appeared as Tom Cruise’s son in the recently released movie “Made in America.” The parade will feature the Georgia State University Pantherettes, the Atlanta Ghostbusters organization, and cosplayers dressed as Wonder Woman and other favorite characters. After the parade, the cosplayers and Santa will gather at City Park for photo opportunities. A vendor area will be available for shopping and food. www.marchofthetoysparade.com.

Dec. 2 The Canton Optimist Club-sponsored Christmas parade in downtown begins at 6 p.m., preceded by live music beginning at noon and a visit from Santa at the gazebo at 3 p.m. For information about being part of the parade, email Richard Rogers at rtrogers@southernco.com.

Christmas Jubilee Parade, sponsored by Woodstock Parks and Recreation, begins at 5:30 p.m. at Woodstock Elementary and travels down Main Street to Sam’s Club at the corner of Highway 92. For road closures and map, visit www.woodstockparksandrec.com. The fourth annual Woodstock Egg Nog Jog takes place before the parade. For details, visit www.woodstockchristmasrun.com or www.active.com. After the parade, families are invited to a festival at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, to visit with Santa. The mayor and Santa will light the tree in the park.

Dec. 4Holiday Extravaganza: A Night with Santa and Mrs. Claus is 6-7:45 p.m. at the Hickory Flat Public Library, 2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton. The fun begins at 6 p.m. with a tree lighting, pictures with Santa, crafts, face stamping and entertainment provided by the Avery Elementary Chorus. Don’t forget to pick up your Winter Literacy Challenge log while you’re there. Refreshments provided. For all ages; children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. 770-345-7565.

Dec. 5Holiday open house 6-7:30 p.m. at the Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground. Drop by for activities and get your holiday picture taken with Santa. Refreshments provided. For all ages; children age 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. 770-735-2025.

Dec. 6Holiday open house 6-7:30 p.m. at R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. Enjoy crafts, refreshments and a performance by the Hasty Elementary School chorus. We even have a special visitor coming: Santa Claus! Come celebrate the holidays with library staff and friends. For all ages; children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. 770-479-3090.

Dec. 7Holiday celebration 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Rose Creek Public Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Festivities include music from the Bascomb Elementary Chorus, refreshments, and a special visit from Santa! For all ages; children age 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. 770-591-1491.

Dec. 7-23Holiday Lights of Hope is a Christmas celebration benefiting the Anna Crawford Children’s Center. Lights, Santa, children’s activity area, seasonal concessions, music and more. Hobgood Park. Open Nightly at 6 p.m. Features a huge walk-through Christmas light display with more than 1 million lights, concessions, vendors, games, Santa and so much more! It’s the new Christmas tradition for kids of all ages!www.cherokeechildadvocates.org

Dec. 8-10Christmas Musical at First Baptist Woodstock, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. This year’s new show is “Letter or Legacy,” set in 1960 following a family whose Christmas gathering explodes with an unexpected surprise.www.atlantachristmasmusical.com

Dec. 9 The Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program (CCHVP) is hosting a free Breakfast with Santa for veterans with children under age 13. Three seating times: 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sponsored by Cherokee County Senior Services at 1001 Univeter Road in Canton. For reservations call: 770-479-4405 (select the extension for CCHVP).

BEATS, Inc, a local nonprofit that provides hippotherapy and adaptive riding to children and adults with special needs, is hosting Santa with two of his “reindeer” friends, crafts and snacks. Take your own photos. $10 per child at Mariposa Farms, 75 Red Gate Trail, Canton. All proceeds benefit BEATS, Inc. www.beats-inc.org.

Dec. 10Santa at the Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University, after the 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. showings of Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” Arts and crafts, milk and cookies, and photos with Santa are included in the ticket price: $10 adults, $5 seniors and children. 770-720-9167. www.reinhardt.edu.